FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2013, AT 8 PMSATURDAY AND SUNDAY, APRIL 27 AND 28, 2013, AT 2 PM

WHAT: LA Phil Resident Conductor Lionel Bringuier leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in three performances at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Friday, April 26, at 8 pm, and Saturday andSunday, April 27 and 28, at 2 pm. He is joined by the gifted pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet performing Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5. The multi-hued French program also includes such popular works as Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé Suite No. 2 and La Valse, and Messiaen’s Les offrandes oubliées (which will not be performed Friday evening).

The Friday concert is part of the LA Phil’s Casual Fridays series, which features a shorter program, is presented without intermission and encourages audience members to attend in comfortable attire. These Casual Fridays concerts also feature a free TalkBack discussion with musicians, held on stage after the performance, and a chance to mingle with members of the orchestra in the Concert Hall Café.

Lionel Bringuier’s collaboration with the LA Phil began at the invitation of then Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen, when he joined the organization as Assistant Conductor in the 2006/07 season. His contract was continued in the 2009/10 season, under current Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, when he took on the role of Associate Conductor. In 2011, he was appointed Resident Conductor. These concerts mark his last with the LA Phil in that role, though he will return as a guest conductor in the 2013/14 season and in upcoming seasons. Bringuier was recently named Chief Conductor designate and Music Director of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich for the 2014/15 season. This season he makes his debut appearances with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the National Orchestra of Spain in Madrid. Additional conducting highlights include return engagements with the New York Philharmonic, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, among many others.

One of today’s most sought-after soloists, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has the rare ability to combine poetic musical sensibilities with dazzling technical prowess. His talent at coaxing subtle and surprising colors and textures from each work he plays has led The New York Times to exclaim that “every note he fashions is a pearl…the joy, brilliance and musicality of his performance could not be missed.” Thibaudet’s musical depth and natural charisma have underlined a career with global impact, including 30 years of performing around the world. He has recorded over 40 albums with Decca and has earned the Schallplattenpreis, the Diapason d'Or, Choc du Monde de la Musique, a Gramophone Award, two Echo awards, and the Edison Prize. Known for his style and elegance on and off the traditional concert stage, Thibaudet has had an impact on the world of fashion, film, and philanthrophy. His concert wardrobe is by celebrated London designer Vivienne Westwood. During his career, he was received many awards and accolades including, in 2007, the Victoire d'Honneur, a lifetime career achievement award and the highest honor given by France's Victoires de la Musique. Thibaudet is a frequent and popular soloist with the LA Phil, with a history dating back to 1989, when he appeared at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2010, the Hollywood Bowl honored Thibaudet for his musical achievements by inducting him into its Hall of Fame.

WHEN: Friday, April 26, 2013, at 8 PMSaturday, April 27, 2013, at 2 PMSunday, April 28, 2013, at 2 PM

WHERE: WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles

HOW TO PURCHASE:Subscriptions and single tickets for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2012/13 season at Walt Disney Concert Hall are currently available. To purchase, please visit LAPhil.com, the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet. To order by phone with credit card, please call the Walt Disney Concert Hall Box Office at 323.850.2000, or Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000. For more information, please call 323.850.2000.